öttiäisten

öttiäisten or öttiäisty are an indigenous people living in Finland, primarily in the northern region surrounding the Kemijoki River. They have been recognized by the Finnish government as a distinct ethnic group, albeit one with a relatively small population.

Historically, records of the öttiäisten people date back to the 17th century when they were studied by Swedish minister Thomas von Westerholm. Since then, there have been few comprehensive studies of the öttiäisten language and culture. By the late 19th century, their language had largely mixed with other regional dialects, making it difficult to discern its distinct features.

The Finnish government has officially approved the use of the öttiäisten name to describe the people who traditionally inhabit the eastern part of Lapland, which is an area that spans across parts of Sweden and Norway as well as Finland. However, some academic researchers have questioned the legitimacy of this ethnonym, suggesting that "ottiäinen" might simply be the finns' name for a regional variety of Finnish.

It is worth noting that while research on the öttiäisten people has been limited, any claim that they might be related to other native peoples such as the Saami people who inhabit parts of Scandinavia is speculative and requires further verification through continued study of the matter.

Finland has committed to providing cultural, economic and some individual benefits to its indigenous people, called realising its national “minority policie"